Chapter Summaries

Watanabe Ichiro passed Konoha’s qualification screening as envoys from the Lands of Wind and Earth prepared to travel with Konoha’s party to the Land of Lightning. Their plan to attack Konoha while its main force was away was exposed by an ambush, though the envoys following the party still believed their scheme was succeeding.

• Watanabe Ichiro completed his tests and returned to the Land of Wind Guesthouse disguised as an envoy.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi delayed the departure of the Lands of Wind and Earth envoys until Konoha assembled a party for the Land of Lightning.
• A Wind envoy sent word that Konoha’s main force had left, prompting squads from the Lands of Wind and Earth to enter the Land of Fire.
• Explosive Tags devastated the invading squads, and their captain killed the wounded sensor before leading the survivors toward Konoha.
• Konoha’s traps and ninja nearly wiped out the remaining attackers, foiling most of the [Ember] plan.
• The envoys traveling with Konoha’s party remained unaware that the attack on Konoha had failed and imagined they would return as heroes.

The Wind and Earth Envoy Group ambushed Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Konoha shinobi, but Konoha had anticipated the attack and countered decisively. As Lu Renyi tried to turn the battle by consuming his own subordinates, one of them killed him, leaving the fight unresolved.

• The Wind and Earth Envoy Group attacked the Konoha party, but Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others evaded the strikes with Substitution Techniques, Shadow Clones, and prepared counterattacks.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi fought Lu Renyi with Earth Release and combined Earth and Fire techniques, then launched a lightning-wreathed water dragon at him.
• Seeing his forces defeated, Lu Renyi ordered his surviving subordinates to gather and killed one to increase his strength.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi offered to spare the subordinates if they surrendered, and one man volunteered to become Lu Renyi's strength.
• Lu Renyi tried to kill the volunteer, but the man decapitated him, and Lu Renyi realized he was dead.

Watanabe Ichiro helped Konoha defeat the Wind and Earth forces, then sensed an overwhelmingly powerful enemy approaching from the Land of Lightning. Hiruzen Sarutobi left to support the missing Hatake Sakumo, while Ichiro stayed behind with the prisoners, anticipating the arrival of the Second Raikage as the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Watanabe Ichiro killed Lu Renyi, and the surviving Wind and Earth fighters surrendered to Konoha.
• Watanabe Ichiro considered exploiting the divisions among the Lands of Wind and Earth to bring them under his control.
• Watanabe Ichiro sensed a massive chakra approaching from the Land of Lightning and warned Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Watanabe Ichiro to guard the prisoners while he went with others to support the missing Hatake Sakumo.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi left despite Watanabe Ichiro's warning to protect him, and Ichiro identified the approaching enemy as the Second Raikage, now the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki.

Watanabe Ichiro deduced that Hatake Sakumo was fighting the Second Raikage, who wielded Eight-Tails chakra, and prepared his Lord Dark disguise to intervene if needed. Hatake Sakumo was overwhelmed by the Raikage’s attacks but used a hidden boulder trap to crush him beneath a falling rock.

• Watanabe Ichiro warned Hiruzen Sarutobi that the enemy might possess tailed beast chakra, and Hiruzen set out to reinforce Hatake Sakumo.
• Watanabe Ichiro summoned his Lord Dark disguise in his mental space while Hatake Sakumo defended himself against the Second Raikage in a rocky valley.
• The Second Raikage attacked Hatake Sakumo with a Tailed Beast Cloak and raged at Konoha over past losses and demands for payment.
• Hatake Sakumo grew exhausted and was knocked to the ground while struggling to break through the Second Raikage’s defenses.
• The Second Raikage approached to finish Hatake Sakumo, but an enormous boulder fell and crashed down on him.

Hatake Sakumo fought the Second Raikage in his Partial Tailed Beast Transformation and suffered severe injuries. Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived to draw the enemy’s attention, while Konoha Ninja carried Sakumo away for treatment.

• Hatake Sakumo survived the Second Raikage’s escape from the fallen rock and prepared to keep fighting despite his broken ribs.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi heard Sakumo’s call, found him, and attacked the Second Raikage with Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique.
• The transformed Second Raikage tore apart Hiruzen’s fire dragon and focused his attack on him, while the Eight-Tails urged him to kill the Konoha Ninja.
• Konoha Ninja carried the wounded Hatake Sakumo to safety as he warned Hiruzen about the enemy’s combat skills and recovery.
• Hatake Sakumo lost consciousness, and Hiruzen Sarutobi feared that his decision to leave Konoha’s best Medical Ninja behind might cost Sakumo his life.

Hiruzen and Enma struggled to keep the partially transformed Second Raikage's Tailed Beast Bombs away from the retreating Konoha ninja. From a distant mountain, Black Zetsu watched the battle before confronting a fast-moving figure.

• Hiruzen used Fire Release and Enma's Adamantine Staff against the Second Raikage, then dropped him by canceling Enma's summoning.
• Hiruzen prepared his Five Release: Great Combo Technique, but the Second Raikage revealed a Tailed Beast Bomb and forced the Konoha ninja to retreat.
• Hiruzen and Enma drew the Second Raikage's attacks away from the fleeing Konoha Team.
• Black Zetsu watched the battle, headed away from it, and stopped when he noticed someone running fast.
• The masked figure laughed and accused Black Zetsu of being behind it again.

Watanabe Ichiro returned to the battlefield and intervened when Hatake Sakumo was declared beyond saving. After learning Sakumo had suffered catastrophic internal injuries, Ichiro used the system to master Medical Ninjutsu and began treating him.

• Watanabe Ichiro used a Consciousness Clone in his Shadow Organization disguise, but Black Zetsu sensed him and fled before he could be tricked.
• Watanabe Ichiro returned to find Hiruzen Sarutobi badly injured and struggling against the crimson tailed beast, then entered the battlefield to help.
• The first group of Konoha ninja returned with Hatake Sakumo, whose injuries appeared minor from the outside.
• A medical ninja told Watanabe Ichiro that Hatake Sakumo's ruptured organs, shattered ribs, and internal bleeding were beyond treatment.
• Watanabe Ichiro redeemed Medical Specialization through the system and began healing Hatake Sakumo with Medical Ninjutsu.

Watanabe Ichiro saved Hatake Sakumo with Medical Ninjutsu, then intervened in Hiruzen Sarutobi’s fight with the Eight-Tails by revealing himself as Xihuo, leader of the Shadow Organization. He left with the controlled Raikage after promising to visit Konoha, and Hiruzen returned to his surviving forces.

• Watanabe Ichiro used Medical Specialization to heal Hatake Sakumo, impressing the Konoha Medical Ninja and onlookers.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi spotted an unidentified figure entering the battlefield and prepared to sacrifice himself with a Sealing Jutsu.
• Watanabe Ichiro used his Mangekyo to control the Eight-Tails, identified himself as Xihuo of the Shadow Organization, and took the transformed Raikage away.
• Xihuo told Hiruzen Sarutobi that the Shadow Organization sought peace and promised to visit Konoha, leaving Hiruzen alarmed by the prospect.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to the Konoha force, saw that Hatake Sakumo and the others were safe, and greeted them.

Watanabe Ichiro used his medical skills and knowledge of the Shadow Organization to earn Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō’s trust while advising them about its leader’s planned visit to Konoha. He then performed grief over Lord Ichiro’s death, claiming to be only beginning to understand loneliness.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to Konoha and praised Watanabe Ichiro’s treatment, supporting his appointment to the Medical Department.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Shimura Danzō that the Shadow Organization wanted to visit Konoha, and they asked Watanabe Ichiro about its leader, Xihuo.
• Watanabe Ichiro described the Shadow Organization’s strict laws, generous benefits, and leader, whom he believed had approached Hiruzen Sarutobi, while warning that Xihuo’s motives and abilities remained uncertain.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō grew more trusting of Watanabe Ichiro and decided to place him in the Medical Department while continuing to assess his loyalty.
• Shimura Danzō asked about Watanabe Ichiro’s medical talent and past, and Watanabe Ichiro claimed he had taught himself medical ninjutsu and had followed Lord Ichiro’s plans since childhood.
• Watanabe Ichiro said learning of Lord Ichiro’s death made his heart hurt, and wondered whether the feeling was loneliness.

Watanabe Ichiro strengthened the Shadow Organization’s control over the Land of Lightning and continued his Leaf Dragon disguise in Konoha, where he reunited with Tsunade. He learned Jiraiya was training at Mount Myōboku and asked Tsunade to help with a plan to ease his worries while keeping his return secret for now.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō discussed Leaf Dragon’s emotional detachment and became less wary of him as they considered his ties to Konoha.
• Watanabe Ichiro took control of the Second Raikage and incoming reinforcements, allowing the Shadow Organization to seize the Land of Lightning and rename it the Land of Light.
• Watanabe Ichiro sent Kakuzu to oversee construction in the Land of Light while Leaf Dragon shared Medical Ninjutsu in Konoha and wrote a medical textbook.
• Tsunade recognized Leaf Dragon’s name and asked about his connection to Jiraiya, so Watanabe Ichiro admitted his identity and explained the secret mission.
• Tsunade told Watanabe Ichiro that Jiraiya had been training in Senjutsu on Mount Myōboku for nearly half a month, and he asked her to help with a plan while keeping his return secret from Jiraiya.

Jiraiya joined Tsunade, Dan Katō, and a Konoha Jonin on a mission to locate the last known Jashin Cult branch in the Land of Wind. While searching for clues, Jiraiya encountered Leaf Dragon, but dismissed him as a hallucination and continued the mission.

• Jiraiya received Tsunade’s mission scroll about Jashin Cult activity in the Land of Wind and traveled there with Tsunade, Dan Katō, and a Konoha Jonin.
• The team investigated the town and learned that a worker who had returned safely might know where the cult was located.
• Dan Katō’s cover story helped them find the worker, but he was too drunk to answer their questions, so the team rested at an inn and split up to investigate.
• While searching the red-light district, Jiraiya heard someone call themselves Miss Axiang and followed the speaker out of town.
• The speaker revealed himself as Leaf Dragon, but Jiraiya called him a hallucination and walked away.

Jiraiya struggled with increasingly vivid hallucinations of Leaf Dragon, whom he still believed was not real, while preparing to attack the Jashin Cult. After infiltrating the cult’s hideout, he watched its leader perform a bloody ritual, and Leaf Dragon’s appearance beside him revived the memory of his past trauma.

• Jiraiya returned to Tsunade dispirited, convinced his hallucinations were worsening and conflicted about seeking treatment because he did not want Leaf Dragon to disappear.
• Tsunade learned from Watanabe Ichiro that Jiraiya had mistaken him for a hallucination, and Ichiro resolved to reveal his identity and help him recover over time.
• The disguised team interrogated an informant, who gave them directions to the Jashin Cult hideout.
• Jiraiya entered the hideout, avoided cult members, and used Transparent Release to conceal himself as he reached the main hall.
• Jiraiya watched the Jashin Cult Leader perform a ritual surrounded by blood pools and corpses, then saw Leaf Dragon draw his sword and was struck by memories of the same nightmare from years earlier.

Jiraiya infiltrated the Jashin Cult’s ritual hall and defeated the Cult Leader using Shadow Clones and a surprise attack. He destroyed the skull that served as the branch’s true leader, then escaped unharmed after its spirit possessed a clone.

• Jiraiya was discovered in the ritual hall, where a blood barrier blocked his escape and blood humanoids attacked him.
• Jiraiya used Shuriken and a Kunai to test the Cult Leader’s defenses, then realized the man’s body resisted ordinary physical attacks.
• Jiraiya let a Shadow Clone be engulfed by the blood humanoids while he used the Double Suicide Decapitation Technique to drag the Cult Leader underground and kill him.
• The blood humanoids and barrier dissolved, but the Pale White Skull revealed itself as the branch’s true leader and fired a beam at Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya destroyed the skull with Flame Bullet while its spirit entered a Shadow Clone, then escaped through the False Gate after receiving his clones’ memories.

Jiraiya mistook Watanabe Ichiro’s attempt to reveal himself for a hallucination and accidentally blasted him away, leaving Watanabe frustrated. After the team rested and shared a lavish dinner, Dan Katō reminded Jiraiya that it was the anniversary of Watanabe’s death.

• Watanabe Ichiro caught the red light before it could reach Jiraiya, but Jiraiya completed his Water Release and blasted Watanabe through the false door.
• Jiraiya searched the Jashin Cult hideout for Watanabe, found no one, and returned to the team believing he had hallucinated the encounter.
• Watanabe Ichiro agreed to let the exhausted team rest in town, booked four suites, and treated them to a lavish dinner.
• Jiraiya tried to leave for training, but Dan Katō stopped him and asked whether he had forgotten the date.
• Tsunade told Watanabe Ichiro that the day was the anniversary of his death.

Watanabe Ichiro learned that Dan Katō and Tsunade had exaggerated Jiraiya’s grief to soften his heart, then joined Jiraiya in the courtyard. Jiraiya said he would seek treatment and told Leaf Dragon he had made peace with letting him go.

• Dan Katō and Tsunade pretended that Jiraiya drank heavily and suffered from grief on the anniversary of Watanabe Ichiro’s death.
• Watanabe Ichiro realized the children were scheming but admitted their story had made him worry about Jiraiya.
• Watanabe Ichiro sensed that Dan Katō and Tsunade were in their rooms and found Jiraiya sitting alone in the courtyard.
• Jiraiya welcomed Leaf Dragon, and Watanabe Ichiro took away his wine and drank it himself.
• Jiraiya said he would seek treatment, move on from the past, and let Leaf Dragon go.

Jiraiya mourned Leaf Dragon and admitted he could not forgive himself for killing him, then fell asleep in Watanabe Ichiro’s arms. The next morning, he learned Leaf Dragon was alive and returned to breakfast with his guilt eased and his friends around him.

• Jiraiya broke down on the anniversary of Leaf Dragon’s death, confessing that he could not let go of his guilt.
• Watanabe Ichiro comforted Jiraiya until he fell asleep, then used a Negative Status Removal item on him.
• Jiraiya woke beside Watanabe Ichiro, mistook him for a hallucination or disguise, and embarrassedly clutched his coat after Tsunade and Dan Katō saw them.
• At breakfast, Tsunade and Dan Katō told Jiraiya that Leaf Dragon had faked his death during a classified mission and returned after it ended.
• Watanabe Ichiro proved his identity by recalling Jiraiya’s secret about the person he liked, and Jiraiya felt his burden lift as he shared breakfast with his friends.

Watanabe Ichiro returned to Konoha with Jiraiya, reassured him with a protective crystal, and reported that Jiraiya’s trauma had eased. Hatake Sakumo then surprised Hiruzen Sarutobi by asking to become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Watanabe Ichiro hinted to Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Dan Katō that they would meet again at the end of their journeys, lifting the children’s spirits.
• Watanabe Ichiro gave Jiraiya a chakra-linked crystal that could block one fatal attack and let him know whether Ichiro was alive.
• Hatake Sakumo admitted he had eavesdropped on Watanabe Ichiro and Jiraiya, then accompanied him to report to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Watanabe Ichiro told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Jiraiya’s psychological block had eased with help from Tsunade and Dan Katō, while withholding the full story of their conversation.
• Hatake Sakumo told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he wanted to become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Hatake Sakumo asked to become the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, citing his desire to grow stronger and intelligence that the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth were developing jinchūriki. Hiruzen Sarutobi sent him to consult Orochimaru, while Watanabe Ichiro judged the intelligence report to be misleading and suspected Black Zetsu.

• Hatake Sakumo explained that he wanted the Nine-Tails' power and believed Konoha needed its own jinchūriki as a deterrent.
• Watanabe Ichiro privately concluded that Sakumo lacked the bloodline, physique, and mental strength to be a suitable jinchūriki.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Sakumo to persuade Orochimaru, who led the project, before he would consider the request.
• After Sakumo left, Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Watanabe Ichiro to assess the intelligence report about the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth.
• Watanabe Ichiro argued that the two countries lacked the resources and stability for such research and concluded that someone had leaked false information to mislead Konoha.
• Watanabe Ichiro suspected Black Zetsu was behind the deception.

Watanabe Ichiro suspected Black Zetsu was plotting to use a Nine-Tails rampage against Konoha, while Xihuo recruited the Eight-Tails Gyuki into the Shadow Organization. Gyuki accepted the role of mascot and was taken along, though he remained resentful of humans.

• Watanabe Ichiro told Hiruzen Sarutobi that an unknown enemy might be targeting jinchūriki, and he privately suspected Black Zetsu planned to make the Nine-Tails destroy Konoha.
• After extracting Gyuki from the Second Raikage, Xihuo ordered the Shadow Organization to occupy the Land of Lightning's remaining territory.
• Xihuo offered Gyuki a place as the Shadow Organization's mascot and threatened to make him kiss the Nine-Tails' ass if he refused.
• Gyuki swallowed his humiliation, agreed to join, and appeared in the system as Mascot · Eight-Tails Gyuki.
• Xihuo shrank Gyuki to a thumb-sized octopus and carried him on his shoulder as Gyuki grumbled about humans and chewed a hole in his clothes.

Hiruzen Sarutobi realized that Leaf Dragon was imitating Uchiha Ichiro and urged Tsunade and Dan Katō to spend time with him. When they tried to get close to Watanabe Ichiro by asking him to teach them undercover disguises, he sensed their approach was forced and turned on them.

• The Eight-Tails joined the Shadow Organization as its mascot after Watanabe Ichiro cheered it up with its favorite treats.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned Tsunade and Dan Katō about their mission with Leaf Dragon and noticed their accounts of his familiarity and behavior.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed that Leaf Dragon had been trained by Uchiha Ichiro and suspected he was imitating his former teacher.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Tsunade and Dan Katō to spend time with Leaf Dragon and cautiously mention Ichiro or teacher to observe his reaction.
• Tsunade and Dan Katō asked Watanabe Ichiro to teach them undercover disguise techniques, but he sensed something was wrong and threatened them with coldly placed fingers at their necks.